The principal of the new USF1 team, Ken Anderson, is in talks with the FIA over the possibility of missing the first four grands prix of the season. Anderson has admitted his team are struggling financially, with their only hope now coming via negotiations with motor sport's world governing body.

"We're working with the FIA to clarify how many races we can miss," Anderson told the New York Times. "In an ideal world, we can miss the first four races and show up in Barcelona [for the Spanish grand prix on 9 May]."

If the FIA accede to USF1's request, it means the North Carolina-based team will miss the races in Bahrain, Australia, Malaysia and China. Only recently the FIA confirmed that any team missing a race would be in breach of the Concorde Agreement – relating to the terms by which the teams compete in the series – and would be penalised. Anderson, however, argued it would not be in the FIA's interests to punish his team, and is hoping the president, Jean Todt, will look on his team's troubles sympathetically.

"I guess anything's possible, but what would be the point of that?" Anderson said on the FIA's threat of sanctions. "Why would they give us a franchise and just, the first time there's a bump in the road, yank it and put it out of business? That's definitely not the message I'm getting from them. They want to help us, not shut us down."

Anderson is hoping the FIA do not dither, adding: "We have a timeline in place that if we get a decision quickly, it triggers funding and we're good to go. If it takes another week or two to make a decision, it keeps backing up."

Although USF1 announced the signing of the Argentinian driver José María López just a few weeks ago and said he was under contract, Anderson has confirmed he could yet leave. It is understood Lopez has spoken with Campos Meta, who yesterday confirmed they would be on the grid in Bahrain after an internal takeover.

Campos have so far only Bruno Senna, the nephew of late three-times world champion Ayrton, on their books, but had delayed the signing of a second driver due to their own financial issues. As Lopez has sponsorship behind him from the Argentinian government he may yet switch teams as Campos still require additional funding.

Meanwhile, the two-times world champion Fernando Alonso said his Ferrari is "already the best car I've ever had" and believes the Italian team have a good chance to win the world title.

Alonso reportedly said McLaren, Red Bull and Renault were stronger in pre-season testing, but the Spaniard warned all the teams to watch Ferrari "because everything so far is working for it".

Ferrari have had few problems with their 2010 car ahead of the season-opening Bahrain grand prix on 14 March. Alonso, who joined Ferrari from Renault, said "there is no reason to be pessimistic" as the team look to recover from their worst season since 1993.